Odie UPDATE pg 16 - he's doing well at present!!

[Geordietyke]

I'm not happy with my current vets and want to try the one my brother and mum uses.  My brother said his vet needs Odie's records from my current vet and that the one I'm with usually charges for them - is this usual?  How much is usual?  

Poor Odie still not right.  He was shaking a couple of weeks ago and off his food.  I took him to the vets and they gave him an anti b and pain relief.  He was OK for a couple of days then the shaking and general not being right came back.  He's still not eating.

I suspect they might want to do an ultrasound and bloods - how much are these?  Trouble is, my insurance runs out on 5 May and the renewal costs have gone up nearly £100 and I've not even claimed again  If I change, I'll not be covered for first 14 days and any treatment in the meantime will become pre existing - I'm caught between a rock and a hard place

[KellyT]

poor Odie and poor you

I've not heard of vets charging for records ... it's your data ?? but I guess there would be admin involved in extracting it all for you, so perhaps they charge for an hours time doing this 

I think I'd definitely be asking for x rays and / or ultrasounds, and to be honest I'd pay the inflated premium on the insurance for piece of mind in case the new vet finds anything, an extra £100 on insurance and coverage for whatever this could turn out to be is better than £1000's referral / vet fees .. just my opinion 

big hugs xx

[Geordietyke]

The thing is, Odie has only had his 1st and 2nd year booster jabs and 1 anti b/1 pain relief jab a couple of weeks ago so there isn't anything else medically on his records which I don't already know  

Surely it's wrong to charge for this info

I'm thinking just paying the £293 renewal insurance amount - just so he's covered.

[bluegirl]

If I were you, I'd ring up your insurers and query the rise in cost. Sometimes if you've been loyal and there have been no claims they will reduce the price (M&S did for me) so worth a try. But failing that I think you'd be better staying with them anyway with this one.

Secondly I've only ever changed vets once during investigations and that was for my duck. I told my present vet that I had found a duck specialist and whilst they were at the point that they were suggesting she was PTS, then I was going to try the specialist and please send over all her notes.

Luckily I was not charged for them faxing over the notes, but I have no idea what the charges could have been. Its so annoying but if you've lost faith in them then I guess if they charge, you're forced to pay, unless you can do some negotiating.

[dal55]

 I have just had to change vets cos they wouldn't order in a vaccine booster that Cass wasn't allergic to. I found another vet and her paper work was just sent on (by paper or electronic I,m not sure ) but I wasn't charged for the"service".
Cassie has just been ill with dia a wotsits and cost over£100 in treatment. I think there may be something going  round (I live not too far from you ) also I think it is now that horses are wormed. Does Odie eat poo !?? But as Kelly says I would def be asking for tests etc
I would also pay for the insurance
Do hope he is better soon
I have heard that Abbey are good in Barnsley ,bit too far for me though and I now go to one at High Green
X

[*Jay*]

I've never heard of a vet charging for transferring records so it's certainly not common practice. If the practice is computerised, it only takes a couple of mouse clicks and hey presto, clinical history is printed. That would then get faxed over to the new vet.

[JeffandAnnie]

  for you and Odie. Pet insurance premiums are not connected to individual claim amounts (thankfully for those who have had big claims) but to general market conditions. I think the pet insurance market has become unattractive (think Halifiax pulling out completely  ) and to make it viable the cheaper insurers (such as Argos) are going to have to raise premiums considerably. I guess we have been benefitting from loss leader prices for a few years and now, if we want to keep our insurance, we'll have to pay a decent rate for it. Niche pet insurers have always been significantly more expensive (Petplan) and probably reflect a more realistic price in the log term. I suspect even with £100 p/a higher premium, Argos will still be cheaper than Petplan  

If I were you, I would accept that we have been very fortunate to benefit from such low insurance premiums the last few years and that this couldn't last for ever, and pay the new premium, unless you have plenty put by for emergencies  

[Geordietyke]

dal55 - I am currently with Abbey in Barnsley   They wouldn't entertain the idea that he might have had a reaction to the booster when I mentioned it.  Previously, another vet wanted me to "manage Odie" the Cesar way (show him who is boss ) so that didn't enamour me to them either!

He doesn't eat poo and I'm 100% sure he's not eaten anything naughty prior to him being unwell as I'd been keeping him on lead at the time.

Our vets are a large chain vets so they are all computerised etc.  They are well known however for charging for the records

Looks like I will have to accept Argos again - I have no savings and I don't work so I'm already out of pocket by £66 the last time I went to the vets (my excess is £115 btw)

[Ninasmum]

Sorry to hear Odie still isn't well Lesley 
First of all i would stick with your current insurance co. for the time being, if you change now you may find you are unable to claim simply because your current vet has already seen Odie for the 'same' condition.    If you don't usually pay monthly, it would be an idea to, its quite a lot to pay out in one instalment. 
I am pretty sure (i know my vets do this f.o.c) that you could go to the vets reception & ask them to print off Odie's records for you while you wait. 
Some dog owners register with 2 vets simultaneously.  Nina & Jo Jo are.    There is nothing to stop you registering with the same vets as your brothers & mum's. 
I really hope you can find out what is wrong with Odie very soon 
Lots of caring, positive thoughts from us here 

[Geordietyke]

Thanks for that   Yes, I'm going to stay with Argos for this next time, just in case.  I usually pay up front but I've been having a very heavy year financially so far so may ask hubby to pay it by DD (I don't like any DD's) and just repay him. 

Just given him some scrambled egg and he's not even eaten that , I may for the moment, just ring my usual vets and get him seen again by them tomorrow (hopefully).

He's all over the place - he's occasionally growling a low grumble when I approach/pat him gently but doesn't do it when the kids approach/pat him

I just don't know what to ask the vets for?  More jabs aren't going to cure him - any advice?  Is it bloods then ultrasound or other way round?

[Helen]

I have extortionate insurance because we've had claims and I've stayed with M&S however it's worth it for peace of mind and prompt pay outs (plus excess is still only £70 with mine) 

I don't know why you don't like direct debits but it certainly is a better way of managing your money and easier on the pocket than one lump sum so I would definitely be doing this.

I would also change vets, and have a long chat with your new vets - a good vet will explain the course of action required and refer you to any specialists etc.  He may speak with the other clinic directly re the records.  Charging for moving vet records is wrong but if they can get away with it they will.  I just made an appointment with the new vets when I changed, advised who the old vets were and the new vets did everything for me.

Why not call a new vets and see if they will see him?  Quite honestly if this has been going on for a while and your old vets have been so unsatisfactory I would not even entertain taking my dog to them....

[KellyT]

I think I'd be looking at wanting all .. x ray, ultrasound and blood tests .. possibly in that order as if the X-ray and the ultrasound don't show anything up then possibly bloods will.

Ultrasounds are a weird things, and need someone with experience and skill to interpret the images, so make sure there's some at your vet with this 'skill' / experience. The first vet who ultra sounded Jennie didn't really know what she was looking at (she was young and only  few years out of uni I reckon).

Pain is a peculiar thing. When Jennie had her disc problem... I could have sworn to you it was her stomach, she grumbled when you touched her, would sit and shake, pace around, pant excessively, though she wasn't off her food (she's never off her food ).
After a while my vet was convinced as well, but when surgery found nothing and she took a turn for the worse it was obviously her back, and referral to a specialist proved this  

As Wendy says, there's nothing to stop you registering with another vet anyway.  Maybe instead of going to your normal vet you should just go to the new vet you want to visit and start this off there.  I'd then just pop into the old vet and say please could you print out a history for me for my records - I wouldn't even mention another vet  

[coopersmum]

I'm so sorry that Odie's still feeling sick. I really hope they get to the bottom of it all soon. Sounds like he needs another vet visit

Personally, I would be hesitant to take him back to the old vet, I know from experience with Cooper that one needs to be able to trust the vet treating your dog:)

Whether or not they do an ultrasound or bloods first will depend on where/what they think the problem is. If Odie doesn't have a long medical record then maybe it will be easier for you to just explain what he's had done at the other vet and leave it in the new vets hands to get that information if they think its necessary.

I really hope he feels better soon.

[angie68]

I would definitely ask for a printout of vet visits & treatment & say it's for you records as you are compiling a file for your insurance paperwork & need all vet info. (my vets receptionist just printed me one off when i asked, so it's well worth a try)
Then i would just go to the new vets and get Odie seen by someone you have faith in.
Good Luck & I hope he improves soon.
Angie x

[Nicola]

They shouldn't charge you for the notes, I obviously had to change vets when we moved from Edinburgh to Bucks 18 months ago and they gave me a printout of all the dogs' notes for free before I left and then sent another copy of Tilly's (copious!) notes down by post, again for free, when the first set went awol in the move. I hope Odie is ok I think it'll depend what they think is wrong with him as to what procedure(s) they recommend and in which order.